The panel rudely ignored occupant of room? (8)
I believe the answer is:
elephant
'ignored occupant of room?' is the definition.
(as in 'the elephant in the room')
'the panel rudely' is the wordplay.
'rudely' is an anagram indicator.
'the'+'panel'='thepanel'
'thepanel' with letters rearranged gives 'ELEPHANT'.
(Other definitions for elephant that I've seen before include "Pachyderm hunted for ivory" , "bigger one from two continents?" , "The symbol of the Republican Party" , "Creature" , "Trunked mammal" .)